What variety is my tortoise?

[Tumbleweed]

Hi,

We got our new, 2 year old tortoise this week, but we don't have any idea what variety he is. It would be lovely if anyone could let us know what Tumbleweed might be.

Thanks!

 

[Tumbleweed]

In case it's useful... we live in Cyprus. Tumbleweed was given to us by a friend who has a mating pair living in his yard. His parents just happened to find both the male and female (at different times) and brought them home many years ago.
Any ideas what kind of tortoises might live wild in Cyprus?

 

[enzot91]

Can you post a photograph of the plastron (belly)? It looks like a Testudo graeca ibera to me.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hi Enzot91,

Thanks. Here is a pic of his tummy. (Like learning the new jargon: plastron!)
What do you think?

 

[Tumbleweed]

And I say "his tummy" but it might be "her" for all I know. I am reading about notches and tail lengths now. ;-)

 

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome,
I'm no expert on tortoise species but given your location maybe a Greek?
If you check the Greek thread in species specific there maybe some pics to compare him with.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's so hard for me to tell when they're just babies. Let's send a shout-out to @HermanniChris - He's very good at I.D.ing tortoise species.

 

[HermanniChris]

It's 100% a Greek tortoise and looks to be Testudo graeca ibera from possible Northwestern Turkey originally.

 

[Tumbleweed]

HermanniChris, you are a legend! Thanks so much.
I'm off to read on the species-specific section now. xx

 

[Chanchara]

Good morning, glad to meet you!
I also live in Cyprus, in Ayia Napa.
I have Hermanns and Indian tortoises.

As far as I know, land tortoises are not found in the wild on the island, and all Greek torts are brought from Turkey.
If you go to the northern part of Cyprus, there the tortoises are very cheap. For example, in the autumn I bought an adult female for my friend for 15 euros.But it is interesting that the Greeks and Hermanns perfectly winter in Cyprus conditions and there are no difficulties in their content.
There is no need for a terrarium, you can simply keep them in the garden.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hi Chanchara,
So lovely to speak to a fellow local! I live near Kofinou (between Larnaca & Lemesos) but my friend who has the breeding pair is just south of Lefkosia and that is where his parents found the tortoises. I assumed that they were wild, but I guess they must have been abandoned by their original owners?... as you say the climate in Cyprus is good for them to live outside, so they may very well have been feral for a few years on their own.
Tumbleweed has a big outdoor enclosure and we've made hi several "houses" to hide in and for hibernation during the winter. How many tortoises do you have?

 

[Chanchara]

There are a lot of us...







By the way, Hermanns just came out of hibernation

 

[Tumbleweed]

Oh wow. They are lovely! Thanks for sharing the pics!
x

 

[Pawciorc]

At the first picture you have a no feed weed served!!! You probaby confuse it with clover while it is oxalys.

 

[Chanchara]

At the first picture you have a no feed weed served!!! You probaby confuse it with clover while it is oxalys.

This is our favorite Cyprus food!

 

[Pawciorc]

This is our favorite Cyprus food!

I dont see him eting that. http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/?plant=362#.WO1IOKKkLIU

 

[Chanchara]

I dont see him eting that.

It's amazing! But my torts agree with you!
They do not want to eat this grass ...

We exclude it from the category of the best meal of Cyprus!

And as soon as the torts saw zucchini ....